Targeting cancer and autoimmune diseases

Machavert’s Science Approach

We are creating novel drug substances that will take advantage of the unique properties of nature inspired lipids and combine the target areas indicated in the diagram: the anticancer, immune enhancing, and tumor selective drug delivery.

Science

Nature Meets Drug Development

Our approach takes advantage of the function of lipids in biological systems. Once considered as passive structural components of membranes, it is now widely recognized that in addition to controlling stability and permeability, lipids (particularly phospholipids) can influence metabolism and a wide variety of cellular signaling pathways. Nature inspired phospholipid molecules represent intriguing opportunity for developing novel drug candidates with great potential to achieve multi-level effects on human health while maintaining low toxicity.

Science

Inhibiting cancer cell growth

Killing cancerous cells is essential to developing effective treatments. It is becoming more appreciated that lipids play an important function in cancer etiology. For instance phospholipids have been shown to impact or inhibit carcinogenic processes including cell growth, cell migration and metastasis formation. Phospholipids have also shown the ability to inhibit kinase pathways important in cancer

Science

Selectively targeting cancer cells

Inhibiting the growth of tumor cells while sparing normal cells is essential to developing safe therapies. As a result of amplified proliferation, cancerous cells often have increased rates of metabolism.

Because lipids are essential for cell growth, research has shown these compounds can selectively accumulate in cancerous cells, thereby providing the opportunity for targeted drug delivery with improved safety.

Science

Harnessing the Immune System

The immune system plays a key role in keeping us healthy. Phospho lipids modulate a great number of immune related events, such as lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, as well as phagocytosis. The biological processes are important for several autoimmune diseases. Moreover, these biochemical processes are becoming to be recognized as key targets for improved immuno- oncology treatments.

Bio-lab up and running

Who we are

Our mission and our goals

Machavert is a bio-pharmaceutical company that develops new, first-in-class therapeutics that will harness the power of the human body to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Our approach takes advantage of nature-inspired non-toxic substances that inhibit cancer growth, interact with the human immune system or enhance the targeting and efficacy of other therapeutics.

Our primary goal is to improve the length and the quality of life of patients suffering from life threatening diseases such as pancreatic cancer. Machavert currently focuses on preclinical research and development to build a robust portfolio of drug candidates for clinical trials.

Our drug candidates

Our leading drug candidate, designated as MP1, is a broad-spectrum lipid based product that exhibits potent anti-cancer efficacy as well as high degree of tolerability in animal models. In addition to progressing MP1 into advanced animal and efficacy studies which will support human clinical trials, we are developing several next generation drug candidates to be employed as tumor specific kinase inhibitors, immuno-stimulants or tumor specific drug delivery agents.

About us

People

Jakub Staszak-Jirkovsky, Ph.D.

Jakub co-founded Machavert and acts as Chief Executive Officer. Prior Machavert, Jakub has worked as a scientist at numerous research organizations such as Argonne National Laboratory, IL, University of Gothenburg in Sweden and University of Liverpool in the UK. Jakub has also worked and was closely involved with our partner company Areko as a director and advisor to the executive team. Jakub graduated and holds Ph.D. from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague.

Greg Miknis, Ph.D.

As the Chief Science Officer, Greg is responsible for creating and implementing of our scientific vision and overseeing R&D operations. Greg has over 15 years of experience in medicinal chemistry and has worked at research positions both at small and large organizations such as Abbot Laboratories, Array Biopharma and lastly as an Associate Director at the Colorado Center for Drug Discovery at Colorado State University. Greg has been involved in almost all aspects of preclinical drug discovery and has worked in the areas of cancer, inflammation, pain and anti-virals. Greg authored several research papers and patent applications, graduated from the University of Wyoming, obtained Ph.D. from Colorado State University and was an American Cancer Society post-doctoral fellow and the University of Texas, Austin.

Colleen Hudson

Colleen is at the core of the synthesis and design of new molecules at our drug discovery chemical lab and also acts as our Vice President of R&D operations. She is a medicinal chemist with a 10+ years of experience most recently at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA as well as other research organizations such as ArQule, Bayer, and Infinity Pharmaceuticals. She has authored several granted patents and patent applications, and has compounds that have moved forward into FDA trials. Colleen holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Salem State University, MA.

Luca Monfregola, Ph.D.

Luca is our Chief Chemist and is responsible for synthesis and design of new molecules at our drug discovery chemical lab. Prior joining Machavert, Luca was a research assistant in the lab of Prof. Marvin Caruthers at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he published several scientific papers and patent applications in the field of biochemistry, co-authored with Agilent Technologies. Luca holds a Ph.D. from the University of Naples Federico II in Italy.

Mani Kandasamy, Ph.D.

As a Scientist, Mani is responsible for research in biology and molecular biology focused on our compounds and their mechanism of action. Mani is an experienced investigator with 10+ years of cutting edge research focused on phospholipids and their cell biology related to autoimmune and other diseases. Prior joining Machavert, he has worked over 10 years at the Department of Medicine at National Jewish Health in Denver and published several scientific papers. Mani graduated from Madurai Kamaraj University and obtained his Ph.D. from Indian Institute of Science in India.

Jason Duex, Ph.D.

Jason is a Senior Scientist leading our biology and molecular biology research programs related to cancer and immunology. Jason has 10+ years of experience with cutting edge cancer research and is now applying this knowledge to drug discovery and pharmacology. He has previously worked in cancer research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh. Jason has authored numerous research papers, received many awards and acquired a number of externally funded grants. Jason holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (B.S) and the University of Iowa (Ph.D.).

Stanislav Pavlin, MBA

Stanislav cofounded Machavert and provides advice in the long-term strategy, holding management and together with Michal in investor relations. Stanislav resides in Luxembourg. His recent activities include running the Supply Chain Strategy for the Vodafone group focusing on technology for which he was recognized by major international awards. Stanislav holds a MBA in Banking and Finance from the University of New York in Prague.

Jakub Staszak-Jirkovsky, Ph.D.

Jakub co-founded Machavert and acts as Chief Executive Officer. Prior Machavert, Jakub has worked as a scientist at numerous research organizations such as Argonne National Laboratory, IL, University of Gothenburg in Sweden and University of Liverpool in the UK. Jakub has also worked and was closely involved with our partner company Areko as a director and advisor to the executive team. Jakub graduated and holds Ph.D. from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague.

Michal Drozd

Michal cofounded Machavert and is responsible for investor relations and as CFO is responsible for controlling and budgeting. Michal actually holds the CEO position in biggest online travel agency in CEE – Invia.cz, a.s. and as investor participates in multiple other projects in Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. Michal graduated at the University of Economics in Prague.

Radek Stavinoha

Radek is a serial entrepreneur and investor. Radek currently acts as CEO of several Universities and educational institution on the Czech Republic and manages a number of other entrepreneurial activities. Radek cofounded Machavert and provides general business advice to Machavert regarding seeking of funding as well as administrative tasks. Michal graduated at the University of Economics in Prague.

Prof. Dennis Voelker, Ph.D.

Dennis is a professor at National Jewish Health in Denver. His major research areas of interests are phospholipid transport processes in eukaryotic cells and pulmonary surfactant proteins – structure and function. Dennis acts as a general science advisor regarding phospholipid function in cells as well as design of new avenues toward employing phospholipids in treatments of autoimmune diseases as well as cancer.

Doc. Pavla Pouckova, MD

Pavla is an associate professor at Charles University in Prague. Pavla is an expert in biology and pharmacology and animal models of human diseases such as cancer. Pavla helps us with design of in-vivo cancer models and pharmacokinetics.

Pavel Jirkovsky

Pavel is cofounder and CEO of Areko, Czech Republic. Pavel ensures smooth cooperation between Areko and Machavert and advises Machavert in both business aspects as well as R&D matters related to natural phospholipid processing and manufacturing. Prior Areko Pavel held executive positions in a major Czech medical products manufacturer Chemopharma; including CTO and CFO. Pavel graduated at Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague.

Detlef Schultz

Detlef advises Machavert on business strategy. His career included executive positions in Supply Chain Management, Finance and Operations in Germany, South Korea, Singapore, California / USA, England and Luxembourg. Detlef started his career with Siemens, worked for Applied Materials and lately for Vodafone as CEO of the Vodafone Procurement Company in Luxembourg and Group Supply Chain Management Director.

Ondrej Fryc

Ondrej is invested in Machavert and provides us with general business advice. Ondrej was the founder and for 16 years the CEO of Netretail, the largest CEE e-retailer with €400m revenues. He raised multiple funding rounds and managed several large M&A projects, including exit of the business in 2012 to Naspers and to Rockaway in 2015. Currently, he is general partner of Reflex Capital, investing in early stage innovative projects in Central Europe and U.S.A.

PARTNERS

We have partnered with leading firms to provide us with additional expertise, guidance and resources.

Highlighted Partnerships

Areko is a biotech company based in the Czech Republic and founded in 1999. Machavert builds on the 15+ years of experience of Areko in the field of biologically active phospholipids. Areko provides know-how related to R&D and manufacturing of phospholipids as well as guidance and R&D resources to Machavert.

Join our team

Are you smart, passionate about science and enjoy a challenge? We are always on search for an exceptional talent. If you feel that this is you and want to join our team, feel free to send us your resume.

Chemist

General Job Description:

As a chemist, you will be driving drug development at Machavert by synthesizing and analyzing organic molecules. You will have an opportunity to contribute toward influencing key decisions and future directions of Machavert. You will collaborate at multiple levels within the company as an important member of highly motivated and result-oriented team.

Key roles and responsibilities:

Synthesis of organic compounds.

Extraction of organic molecules from Natural sources by, e.g., HPLC.

Characterization of organic molecules and mixtures by LC-MS and NMR.

Job Requirements:

You have B.S. or M.S. or Ph.D. in chemistry.

You have 1-2 years of industrial experience or an equivalent of internships etc.

You know standard organic synthesis and characterization techniques such as HPLC, MS and NMR.

You understand air sensitive techniques such as operation of schlenk line and glove boxes.

What we offer

A competitive salary, heath, dental, vision, 401k, stake in the company and the great opportunity to grow with our highly ambitious project.

Biologist

General Job Description:

You are an enthusiastic, goal driven researcher who is interested in working in a start-up environment. As a key member of highly motivated and result-oriented team, you will be driving R&D in our bio-lab and all other biology related research activities. You will collaborate at multiple levels within the company and your contributions will significantly impact key decisions and future growth of the company.

Key roles and responsibilities:

Establish assays to assist in the identification of drug targets as well as provide insight into the mechanism of action of novel drug substances.

Identify, validate and establish collaborations with certified research organizations (CRO’s).

Closely collaborate with chemistry team to identify new bioactive materials.

Assist in the identification of new market opportunities and promising future directions for clinical development.

Support fundraising activities, interact with potential investors or collaborators at various events such as conferences.